Burial casket



A. M. ALEXANDER May 29, 1928.

BURIAL CASKET Filed May 18, 192

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES ANDREW M. ALEXANDER, or CLAY, KENTUCKY;

-IBURIAL CASKET.

Application filed May 1-8, 1926. Serial No. 109,994.

This invention relates to certain improvements in burial caskets and itis an object of the invention to. provide a deviceof thisgeneralcharacter which, when the lid is applied, is hermetically sealedto prevent ingress of air and moisture therein whereby the corpse willbe preserved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casket of this kindwhich isparticularly adapted for use in the laying out of bodies ofpersons dying of contagious diseases and particularly to permit'suchshipment in full compliancewith the health laws of the various States. vI

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of thisgeneral character with means whereby its lowering within the grave ismaterially facilitated and also wherein the same is providedwithcushioning means toabsorb shock incident to the handling of the-casket.v

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the. several parts of my improved burialcasket whereby certain im portant advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. i

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same withreference to the ac compa-nyingdrawings, wherein .Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a casketconstructed in accordancewith an embodiment of my invention; i

Figure 2is a viewin'top'plan of the structure as illustrated in Figure'1;

Figure 3 is atransversesectional view taken substantially on the line 33of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line4.4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on theline 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a viewin top plan of the casket as herein disclosed with thelid removed;

Figure 7 is a view in bottom plan of the lid unapplied;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective ofa marginal portion ofthelid looking from below. 7 e 1 .As'disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes the body of my improved casket having itswalls formed ofglass and having its bottom '0I base portion substantially defined by aflange 1 also of glass.

The side portions of the fiangeadjacent the opposite ends of the body Bare provided with the notches 2 to receive the conventional straps forlowering the casket within a grave. These notchesserve to preventslippage of the straps in adirection lengthwise of the casket and. alsopermit a ready release of said straps after the casket has been properlylowered within the, grave. v

Detachably engaged with the lower marginal portion of the flange 1 is ashock,

absorbing medium 3 preferably of an inflatable type. This shockabsorbing medium 3 is provided to compensate for thefshocks and jars towhich the casket and the corpse therein may be subjected in handling.This shock absorbing medium. 3, just before the casket is lowered intothe grave or deposited in any other suitable permanent resting place, isremoved.

. The upper marginal portion of the wall of band are the handles 6 ofdesired type or design. In addition toprovidinga mount-. ing for thehandles 6, the band 4 also serves to reinforce or strengthen the upperportion ofthe .body B. a 1

The flange 1- also has disposed therearound a reinforcing band 7 appliedto and maintained in desired position in the same manto the band 4.

The upper or free edge'of the body B at a point substantially at thetransverse center thereof is provided with a continuous groove orchannel 8 dovetail in cross section with the vertical or side wallsthereof provided therealong with the crossed grooves 9 while said upperor free edge of the wall of the (if: i

ner as hereinbefore set forth with respect 7 body B outwardly of saidgroove 8 is also provided with'the; crossed grooves '19.

Embedded within the upper edge face 615 the wall of the body B atpredetermined points therealong are the internally threaded sleeves 11inwhich are adapted to be engaged the bolts or screws 12 for maintainingthe lid L in applied position. The lid L is also formed of glass andofisuch confignration and dimensions as to properly fit upon the body B.The marginal'zportion of the lid constitutes an outstanding fiangeflthrough which the bolts or screws 1-2 'hereinbefere referred toare-disposed. 'The free edgetae'e of the lid L is pro'vided with :acontinuous groove 15wwh-ich, when the lid 'is in applied position,registers with the groove 8 of the *body *B. ,This groove 15 is al-so-prc 'ferably dovetail in cross section and has disposed along its sidewalls thecr-ossed grooves 16. The edge face of the lidL outwardly 0f thegroove is also i provided there-along with thecrossed-grooves l f.

The marginal portion of the lid L at desired points thereon is initiallyprovided with the filling openings 18 eon'imunicatifng with the groove15. After 'the lid L is applied asuitable'sealing medium of a-norma'lserveszas a means to such sealing material.

ly hard material and initially of aa plastic stateisf poured into theregistering grooves 8 and 15' through the filling openings 18"resultingin a hermetic seal between the lid 'L and body B- whereby-air andmoisture prevented from entering within the closed casket. The sealbetween the applied lid L and the body is further increased by thesealing material entering within and filling up the crossedgroovest) and10 ofthe body B and the crossed grooves 16 and 17 6f the lid L.

The'edgedace of the lid L inwardly ofthe groove15 is smooth andunobstructed and is inwardly stepped with respect to the outer marginaledge iaee and-theedge i'aceol" the l body 13' inwardly :ofthe groove 8is also smooth and unobstructed. Between said smooth portions of theedgefaceso-fthe applied lidL and body 13 isapplied agas'ket 19 preferably ofrubber which in addition to providing a furt'her -seal also serves as ashock absorber when the lid L is applied and to prevent'an overflow ofthe sealing material when belng applied; Thealpwai-rb ly pro1ect1ngport1on-ol the band 4' also prevent overflow of The lid L at oppositesides and adjacent the ends thereof has operatively engaged therewiththe handles .20, said .=handles as herein disclosed 'beingadirectlyengaged with \outstandingblocks or knobs 21 molded with .the .lid

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a burialcasket constructed in accordance with my invention is particularlyWell-adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withwhich it maybe assembled and operated,-and it will also "be-obvious that:my invention is suscep- U tible of some change and modification withoutdeparting "from the principles and spirit thereof and dor this-xreason"I *do not wish to he understoodas limiting mysellto theprecisearrangement and form'ation of the'sevgrooves formed'therein, a lid,c-heedge face of the lid being also provided rtherearound with a grooveregistering with the main groove in the body when the lid is in appliedposition, said lid being provided with a filling opening incommunication-With -the groove therein, an external reinforcing banddisposed around the =npper portion of tlle body and extending :above theedge Yface of the body. I

tending around its upper edge ftac vthe side Walls of the groovehavingsupplemental grooves formed therein, a lid, the edge ta ce of thelid being -also=pro'v1ded therearound with a groove registering with themain groove in the body when the lid lis in applied position, saidlidbeing provided withmefiliing opening in communication with thegroovetherein, an external *rein' forcing band disposed I around theupper portion of the 1 body andextending above'the edge/face-oftheibody, and handles attached to the'iband. 3. In a caskety-abodyhaving its "lower portion substantiallydefined by a-- continuousdepending 'fiangepadid forthe body,--a shock absorbing Inedium engagedwith the lower I portion-"of the flange, 'and a reinforcing zbanddisposed around'the fiange.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix'my signature.

ANDREWM'. ALEXANDER.

* In a casket, a body -having -a groove-ea,

